A Sentimental Finale for Hendricks as Cubs Dominate Reds

In what was potentially his final appearance with the Cubs, veteran Kyle Hendricks waved a heartfelt goodbye to the crowd. The Cubs defeated the Cincinnati Reds 3-0 on Saturday, thanks to the combined offensive prowess of Isaac Paredes and Pete Crow-Armstrong who delivered crucial RBI singles in the eighth inning.

A Masterful Performance

Hendricks, the 34-year-old right-handed pitcher, allowed only a couple of singles and two walks over 7 1/3 innings. The windy afternoon at Wrigley Field saw him striking out two and retiring 11 consecutively. After a successful stint of five seasons with the Cubs, including a World Series victory in 2016, Hendricks is now on the cusp of free agency. His performance on Saturday was met with a standing ovation from the 38,180 spectators.

A Bittersweet Goodbye

Following the game, Hendricks came out of the dugout to acknowledge the cheering crowd. “You feel all the emotions, man, feel so lucky,” he expressed. Despite being a bit uncomfortable with the attention, he admitted to soaking in the moment. Hendricks has been a constant in the Cubs’ rotation since his debut in 2014, but injuries in 2022 and 2023 saw him relegated to the bullpen.

The Winning Eighth Inning

The eighth inning saw Dansby Swanson doubling off Buck Farmer (3-2). With Justin Wilson relieving, Cody Bellinger singled and Seiya Suzuki was intentionally walked. Paredes and Crow-Armstrong contributed with RBI singles, while Mike Tauchman drew a bases-loaded walk. Tyson Milller (5-1) secured two outs in the eighth, and Porter Hodge delivered a perfect ninth for his ninth save in 12 chances, resulting in a three-hitter.

A Sign of Respect

After Hendricks reached 81 pitches, Cubs manager Craig Counsell sent pitching coach Tommy Hottovy to pull him off. Hendricks appreciated this gesture and later found a pyramid of 22 baseballs, representing his outs, assembled by his teammates in front of his locker.

Future Uncertain

Despite a career record of 97-81 and a desire to stay with the Cubs, Hendricks seems prepared for a possible move. Although optimistic about staying, he acknowledged that it’s likely he’ll end up elsewhere.

Meanwhile, the Reds are on a five-game losing streak, shut out for the 16th time and held to three hits or fewer for the 20th time. Freddie Benavides, Reds’ interim manager, attributed the lackluster performance to a dormant offense.

Tale of the Starters

The game saw Reds’ starter, Rhett Lowder, allowing three hits in five innings. The rookie right-hander ended his debut season with a 2-2 record and a 1.17 ERA in six starts. He struck out 22 and walked 14 in 30 2/3 innings, and didn’t allow a home run.

Sunday’s season finale will feature Reds’ RHP Hunter Greene (9-5, 2.83) against Cubs’ RHP Caleb Kilian (0-1, 7.94).